Bottle-sealing machine.



Patented Apr. 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 1,

M W M ATTORNEY E: J. GODMAN.

BOTTLE SEALING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 29, 1907.

Patented Apr} 27, 1909.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I ATTORNEY EMORY .T. GODMAN, OF JERSEY CITY, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO STERLING SEAL COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MAINE.

BOTTLE-SEALING MACHINE.

To all whom it may concern} Be it known that I, EMonY J. GoniwrAN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Jersey City. in the county, of Hudson and State of New Jersey, United States of America, have invented certain new and usefulinipi'oveiiieiits in Bottle-Scaling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

- My invention relates to a bottle sealing machine and its object is to provide a simple and etticicnt apparatus for applying caps to bottles.

it consists in the novel construction and arrangements of parts which i will describe in the following specification and the novel features of which I will set forth in claims.

. machine.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my improved apparatus. Fig. 2 is an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of a driving pulley, the section being taken through the line 22- of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a similar sectional view of a portion of a locking device, the section being taken through the line ---3 of Fig. '1. F g. 4 is a top plan view of a trip collar which I use in carrying out my invention. Fig. 5 is a sectional side elevation of tlie'sealing or cappin head of this Fig. 6 is a front elevation on an enlarged scale of a portion of the apparatus I illustrated in Fig. 1 with the front plate re inoved', this View showing an improved conipensating mechanian which I have invented. Fig. 7 a sectional plan view of the coinpensating niccl'ianism, the section being taken through the line T-T of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation of the compensating mechanism. Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic representation of the compensator showing its parts in dilterent operative positions. In

Fig. 10 I have shown in 1.)(1$1)t0il\'0 one form of bottlecaps or stoppers which may be used in conjunction with my improved bottle sealing machine.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

' 10 designates a standard or base upon which the various parts of my unichine are mounted.

11 is a standard rigidly bolted to the base 10 at 12 so that it forms the upper portion of the supporting frame.

Patented April 27, 1909.

21 for the power shaft 30. This pedestal pivotally supports a .treadle 22 at 22 A tension spring 23 between the base.and the treadle serves to normally maintain the latter in its raised position ii which it is shown .in F 1. The inner portion 21 of the ti'eadle coacts with a latch lever 25 which i pivoted at 25 to the pedestal 20. One end ofthis latch lever is provided with an upwardly projecting portion 26, the inner end of which is preferably tapered as shown at 26". A spring 27 may be provided to pull this projecting portion 26 upward. in the other end of the latch lever 25 a s 'ding catch 28 is placed, and a spring 28- is provided to press this catch outward. A pin '25) passing through a slot in the upper side of the latch lever and attached to the sliding catch 28 limits the outward movement of the catch and performs a further function ujhich I will point out later.

A grooved collar 31 is made fast to the shaft 30 by means of a key 31-. 31 designates the groove in the collar 31. In a recess in this collar a sliding key 32 is placed with a compression spring 32 behind it to press it outward. A slot 33 is cut out in the unsource of power supply, is loosely mounted upon the shaft 30 between the fixed grooved collar 31 and another-colla r 35 which is fastened to the end of the shaft. Into the inner hub of this power pulley rectangular grooves 36, 36 are cut at right angles toeach other so that they form recesses equally spaced about the hub. These recesses are of a width approximately equal to that of the sliding key 32.

Between the two bearings 91, 21 a trip collar 37 is fastened to the shaft 30. This trip collar is provided with a projecting cain portion 38 which is clearly shown in Fig. t. At the forward end of the shaft 30 a crank collar 39 is fixed to which is attached a crank pin 39.

40 designates a vertically reciprocating rod. The upper portion 13 of the base 10 and the upper part 14 of the standard ll are bored-out to form bearings for this rod to slidably support it. The lower end of-rod is connected with the crank pin 39 by a pitman 11. To the upper end of this recip rocating rod 40 a sealing head 42 is attached. This sealing head is hollow and within it a compression shaft 43 is placed.

,A cdmpression spring 44: between the upper I end of the compression shaft and a nut 45 permanent magnet which is placed loosely within the hollow portion of the compres sion shaft 43 andis supported upon the pin 46. A light spring 43* may be placed above this magnet to insure its being pressed outward from the compression shaft 4 3.

Between the shoulder 48 and'g thetproj ecting rim 49 a forming ring 50,'is placed. This is preferably built up of a'plurality of sectors held together and. in horizontal alinementwith each other by means of springs 51, placed in grooves in the outer surfaces of 4 are adapted 'to engage with and act upon the sectors. The inner surfaces of the sectors are providedWith cam grooves 52 which portions of bottle caps in a manner which I will point out later. The vertical height of the forming ring is somewhat less than .the distance between the shoulder 18 and the projecting rim 49* so that the forming ring is held loosely between these parts of the sealing head. To prevent its rotation within the sealing head a pin 53 may be provided in one of its sectors.

- The bottle to be sealed is designated by 54 "and it is provided, as shown, with a rim or head 55 about the upper end of its neck. The bottle is held by a bottle supporting plate 56,'upon which may be placed a pad 57 of resilient material.- A guide bracket 11 is supported upon the standard 11 and arranged to hold the bottle in alinement with the sealing head. The 'manner in which this bottle supporting plate is. supported upon and connected with the other parts'of the apparatus is an important feature of my invention and-one which I will now particularly point out.

A spindle 60 is attached to the plate -56 and extends downward into the inside of an inner sleeve 61 and 1s resil ently supported therein by means of a compression spring The inner Tfhis inner sleeve is supported in aneopae erably integral therewith. The inner sleeve is arranged to move positively with the outer sleeve but the relative Jpositions of the two sleeves may be adjliste" by means of an adjusting screw; 6-l which passes through the lower portion of the' outer sleeve 63 through a threaded-hole and b' ar's upon'the-bottrflu portion of the alll'illelll sleeve 61. 1 65 is a lock-nut,for liolding 't-heiadjusting screw 64 in a desired position.

The outsideof thb outer sleeve 63 is what smaller in diameter. at that *p'iaiit of its length which passes through the bearing 15 than it is at the part which passes through the bearing 16. A shoulder is formed at, 66 where the portions of different diameters meet. 67 is a collar which is arranged to fit over the lower portion of the outer sleeve, and to abut against the shoulder 66. A. pin 68 may be providedto hold this collar onto the outer sleeve 63. U 69 is a bufier cushion of soft rubber or similar material.

The portion of standard 11 which is situated near the parts just described is enlarged to form a chamber 17 within which the various" parts of my impi'oved compensating mechanism are situated. 18 designates a removable cover for the chamber 17.

At 70. 7 O are pivoted two weighted levers '71, 71, the forward ends of which are provided with antifriction rollers 72 which bear upon the'under surface of collar 67 and the rear ends of which are enlarged as shown at 73 to form weights of considerable size.-

The rear surfaces 74 of these pivoted weighted lovers are constructed to form cam surfaces which are preferably finished.

75 designates a plunger which is supported iuthe rear portion of the part of standard 11 which forms the chamber 17 and which is arranged to slide horizontally therein. A compression spring 75 is arranged to push thisplunge-r forward under a pressure which maybe regulated by means of 'anadjusting screw 76 which. may beset-at the proper position and held in place by means of a. lock-nut 76". plun ter 7 5 is constructed to form a yoke 77 whic holds a pair, ofantifriction rollers 7 8,.

78 which are in the path of movement "of the cam surfaces 74 and which are pushed out- \vardagainst these cam surfaces 74 under a desired amount of pressure by means of. the compression spring 75 v a 80 designates a trip lever which is pivoted at 81 to the yoke 77 at a the axis of the plunger 7 5. This trip lever 80 is held fromnpward movement by abutting against a shoulder 82' formed in yoke 77, but it may be moved downward against The outer portion of this point in line with I to prevent any lateral or hormontal move the action of a small spring 83. 84 designates a cam collar which is attached to the reciprocating rod 40 directly above the trip lever 80.

19 is a guiding collar attached to the upper end of standard 11 and arranged to-gulde the movements of the sealinghead 42 and ment thereof.

90 designates one form of bottle cap which may-be used to advantage in conjunction with the apparatus which I have invented. Thls cap comprises a Hat disk 91 which is pulley comes op its projecting portion 26 from the provided with a depending flange 92, below which fingers or holding lugs 93 depend. One of these depending fingers or lugs may be provided with an extended tail-piece 94 if desired. A packing of cork or other resilient material may be placed within this cap.

I have described the various parts of my ap 'iaratus and I will now proceed to point out their operation.

The pulley 34 is from a suitable source of power so that it is constantly revolving durin the operation of this apparatus. It is oosely mounted upon the shaft '30 so that it has no effect upon the latter until it is connected therewith by the operator. This may be done by depressing the forward end of latch lever 25 and withdraw grooved collar 31. This will leave the sliding key 32 free to be pushed outward from the grooved collar 31 under the action of its spring 32. As soon as one of the rectangular grooves 36 in the hub of the power osite this sliding key the latter will move into the groove and thereby lock the power pulley 34 and the grooved collar 31 together. The grooved collar is attached to the shaft 30 so that the shaftwill now move in unison with the power pulley 34.- This will in turn cause through its connection with the crank collar.

The sealing head 42 will thereby be actuated to perform'its functions which I will describe later.

The trip collar 37 is connected to move with the shaft 30 and it is so arranged that when the shaft has been rotated a prede tel-mined amount the cam surface 38 of the trip collar will strike upon an antifriction roller 29:} upon the pin 29 and thereby push thesliding catch 28 inward. The sliding catch 28 will thereby be removed from engagement with the inner end 24 of the treadle 22 and the projecting portion 26 of the latch lever'25 will then be forced into the I slot in collar 31 by means of the spring 27.

The tapered end 26* of the projecting portion 23 will then engage with the sliding key 32 am. cause the latter to be withdrawn from arranged to be driven treadle 22 which will raise the l l l this machine that the shaft 30 and its conits engagement with tlie power pulley 34. y

The movement of the shaft 30 will thereupon discontinue. A

It is desirable for the rapid operation of nected parts should come to rest quickl upon the disconnection of the grooved co lar 31 from the power pulley and for this purpose I sometimes provide the brake-shoe 31 which is pressed upon the outer surface of the grooved collar and which assists in arresting the movement of the-shaft 30.

It may be seen that whenever the treadle 22 is depressed the crank collar 39 will be carried through only one revolution so that the sealing head will be depressed and raised again but once. Itis necessary for the repetition of this operation that an operator allow the treadle to be raised again until its rear end 24 is caught under the sliding catch '28, after which the sealing head may again be depressed and raised in the manner previously dacribed.

In order to seal a bottle by this apparatus the bottle is placed upon the bottle supporting plate 56 as is shown in Fig. 1 and a cap 90 is placed within the bottle sealing head 42. t The cap will be supported therein by the magnet 43". When the sealing head 42 is depressed as before described the cap 90 will descend with the head until it comes in contact with the top of the bottle 54. The firsteffect of this wi lbe to cause the magnet 43* to be pressed 'upward into the compression shaft .43. A further movement will cause the compression shaft to press the cap firmly down upon the bottle when its movement within the sealing head is arrested but. a

further movement of the head will cansthe forming ring 50, through its cam surfaces 52 acting upon the depending fingers 93 of the cap, to push the depending fingers inward until they are brought into locking engagement with the rim or bead 55 at the] top of the bottle. In performing this operation it is necessary to have a considerable pressure exercised between the sealing head 42 and the bottle supporting plate as the upward movement-of the compression shaft. 43 within the sealing head 42 is limited by the pin 46 and the slots 47, this pressure will be taken up bythe bottle.- It is also desirable that this pressure be. uniform for variable sizes of bottles so that bottles which are under height will receive the maximum amount of pressure necessary for perfect sealing, and bottles which exceed the normal height will not be subjected to undue pressure. For this purpose I have invented the compensating mechanism, the parts of which I have already described and the operation of which I will now point out.

The first effect of the sealing head 42 upon the bottle will be to push the latter downward. .The first shock of this downward so, and "r movement of the bottle will, be taken up by the compression springs 44 and 62 until the bottle supporting plate 56 comes in contact with the upper end of the inner sleeve 61,

upper portion of the cam surfaces 74: may be formed with a slight indentation 74: to make necessary a given amount of pressure for moving theweighted levers 71. amount of downward pressure upon the bottle necessary to cause the movement of the weighted levers 71 may be nicely adj usted to a predetermined amount. This resisting effect will continue during the downward movement of the sealing head. The continued downward movement of the bottle will cause the cam surfaces 74 to be raised and to thereby press the plunger 75 inward at a rate sutficient.to resist the downward movement of the bottle at a practically constant pressure. The various parts above mentioned move together in substantially the same relative positions, and the pressure upon the cap is maintained during the whole operation within the limits of the sealing pressure without putting undue crushing pressure upon the bottle. The cam may, if desired, be constructed as designated in Fig.

9, by; dotted lines, at 74 to produce an increasing pressure during the downward movement of the bottle, orit may be con structed as designated by dotted lines at 74 to maintain a constantly diminishing pressure during the downward movement of the bottle. The various parts may beadjusted' by means of the adjusting screws 64 and 76 to obtain upon the bottle the amount of pressure necessary for perfect sealing, and this pressure may be maintained Without being exceeded throughout the entire operation of sealing. The arrangement for adjusting the position of the inne sleeve 61 within the outer sleeve 63-3 is provided for the purpose of adjusting the bottle supporting plate. for greater variations in heightthan the compensating device is constructed to take care of.

It may be seen that the cam collar 84 upon the reciprocating rod 40 has been moved downward into the position indicated in Fig. 9 by the downward movement of the rod 40. In doing this it has passed the trip lever 80 which is first swung about its pivot into the position designated by dotted lines in Fig. 9 to allow the cam collar to pass.

Then upon the inward movement of the reciprocating rod 40 and the cam collar 84- the trip lever 80 will be pressed backward and will thereby cause the yoke 77 to be moved back against the action of spring 75 a sufiicient amount to entirely remove the antifriction rollers 78 from their contact with the cam surfaces 74. This will allow the weighted levers 71 to return freely to their original (position as soon as the p1. sure is relieve The antifriction rollers 72 which are .attached to the forward ends of these weighted levers, acting upon the underv surface of collar 67, will promptly.return the inner and outer sleeves and the bottle sup orting plate to their original positions under the action of gravity. The buffer cushion 69 is provided to prevent undue jarring of the parts in returning to their original positions. The cycle of operations above described from the top of the bottle/ will occur once for every time thetreadle 22 is depressed, and it may be seen that the operation-may be repeated indefinitely as often as required. The compensating mechanism therefore maintains upon a bottle during the downward stroke of the sealing head a desired amount of pressure, but the device by means of which this pressure is obtained is automatically thrown out of operation upon the upward stroke of the sealing head so that the compensating mechanism operates only at the part of the operationof sealing the bottle at which it is useful inperforming its functions.

I have illustrated one form of carrying my invention into effect but the invention may be worked out in many other ways.

The compensating mechanism which .I have invented is simple and effective and a great improvement over others known in the sociated with the bottle support and a cam actuated by said lever, said cam being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support. 7

"2. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a bottle support, meansfor moving one of said parts relative to the other to obtain sealing pressure, a spring arranged to produce an opposing force to said further movement, a pivoted weighted cam lever associated with the bottle support, said cam lever being arrangedto compresstie spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support in the downthe uiward direction.

ing to the length of the bottle,

ward direction, saidwveighted cam lever being arranged to move the bottle support in 3. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a bottle support, means for moving one of said parts relative to the other to obtain sealing pressure, a spring arranged to produce an opposing forceto said further n'iovement, a pivoted weighted lever associated \vitlrthe bottle support, a cam actuated by said lever, said cam being arranged to compress the springat a predetermined-rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support in the down 'ard direction, said weighted lever being arranged to move the bottle support in the upward direction, and means for removing said spring from operative position during the upward movement of the bottle support.

4. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a bottle support, meansfor moving one of said parts relative to the other to obtain sealing pressure upon a bottle when sald parts are a distance apart correspondmg to the length of the .bottle, and for further moving said partsin the same direction and in substantially the same relative positions, a pivoted cam member connected with one of said parts, and a spring-pressed opposing member in contact with the pivoted cam member, said cam member and pposing member being arranged to produce the required sealing pressure upon the bottle and to maintain said pressure Within the sealing limits.

5. In a bottle sealing machine, a"sealing head, a bottle support, means for moving one of said parts relative to the other to obtain sealing pressure upon a bottle when the parts area distance apart correspondand for further moving said parts in the same directron and in substantially the same relative positions, a pivoted cam member connected with one of said parts, a slidable opposing member, a spring pressing said opposing member into contact with the pivoted cam member and arranged to produce a regulable amount of sealing pressure upon the bottle and to maintain said pressure within the sealing limits, and means for adjusting said pressure. 7

ti. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a bottle support, {means for moving the sealing head downward toward said'support-until it reaches a distance from the siuiport correspondingto the height of a bottle upon the,'sn1 )port, and for further moving the sealing. head and the support in the same dii ee'tiongancl in substantially the same relativepositions, a pivoted cam member connected with the bottle support, a slidable opposing member, a spring pressing said opposing member against said cammember and arranged to produce a regulable amount of pressure upon the bottle and to maintain said pressure within the sealing limits throughout said further movement.

7. Ina bottle sealing machine. a sealing head, a bottle support, a pivoted cam lever associated with said support. a slidable opposing member, a spring pressing said opposing member iuto contact with said cam lever, means for moving the sealing head toward the bottle support until the pivoted cam lever and its associated opposing member produce sealing pressure upon a bottle, and for further moving the sealing head and the bottle support in the same direction and in substantially the same relative positions, said cam being arranged to move the opposing member against the action of the spring to produce a predetermined opposing force to said further movement. 8. In a bottle sealing machine,,sealing head, a bottle support, a pivoted e er connected with the support, said lever having a cam-surface with a shoulder portion thereon, a slidable opposing member, a spring pressing said opposing member into contact with the shoulder portion of same cam surface, means for moving the sealing head toward the bottle support until the cam and its associated opposing member produce sealing pressure upon a bottle, and for further moving the sealing head and the bottle support in the same direction and in'substantially the same relative positions, said cam being arranged to move the opposing 'member and compress the spring at a predetermined rate to produce a desired opposing force to said further movement.

9. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a power device arranged to reciprorate the sealing head through a fixed distance of travel, a bottle support arranged to hold a bottle in the path of travel of the sealing head and to move down and up with the sealing head a distance corresponding to the length of the bottle, a compensatingdevice arranged to automatically oppose the downward movement of the bottle, said compensating device comprising a spring arranged to produce an opposing force to said further movement, a lever associated 'with the bottle support and a cam actuated by said lever. said. cam being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support.

7 10. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head, a power device arranged to reciprocate the sealing head through a fixed :distance of travel, a bottle support arranged to hold a bottle in the path" of travel ot the scaling head and to move down and up with the s aling head a distance corresponding to the length of the bottlefa compensating device arranged' toautomatically oppose said the bottle support upward, and means for positively removing said spring from operative position during the upward movement of the bottle support.

11, In a bottle sealing machine, a frame,

' a power device, a reciprocating rod having a fixed distance of travel, a sealing head connected therewith, a bottle support upon the frame, said bottle support being arranged to hold the bottle in the path of.

travel of the sealin head and to move with the sealing head uring a portion of its travel, a spring arranged to produce an opposing force to said further movement, a lever associated with the bottle support, and a cam actuated by said lever, said cam being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support.

12. In a bottle sealing machine, a frame, a power device, a reciprocating rod having a fixed distance of travel, a scaling head connected therewith, mechanism for con-. necting the power device with the reciproeating rod, a deprcssible treadle for con-' trolling said connecting mechanism, said connecting mechanism being arranged to cause the reciprocating rod and the sealing head to be reciprocated but once for each depression of the treadle, a bottle support upon the frame, said bottle support being arrargged to hold a bottle-in the path of travel of the sealing head and to move with the sealing head during a ,portion of its travel corresponding to the length of the bottle, a spring arrangedto produce an opposing force to the downward movement of the bottle support, a lever connected with the bottle support, and a cam actuated by said lever, said cam being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support.

13. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head,-a bottle support, a power device arranged to reciprocate the sealing head through a fixed distance of travel to obtain sealing pressure, intermediate mechanism for connecting the po- 'er device with the sealing head, a depres: Pole treadle for controlling. said eonneetiei, said intermediate mechanism being arranged to cause the scal mg head to be reciprocate-d but once for each depressionof the treadle, a bottle supportarranged to hold,a bottle in the path of travel of the sealing head and to move with the sealing head during portion of its travel, a cam lever associated -with the bottle support, said cam lever being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support. I

14. In a bottle sea-ling machine, a sealing head, a power device arranged to reciprocate .the sealing head through a fixed distance of 'travel, intermediate mechanism for connecting the power device with the sealing head, a depressible treadle for controlling said connection, said intermediate mechanism be-,

ing arranged to cause the sealing head to be reciprocated but once for each depression or the treadle, a bottle support arranged to hold a bottle in the pathof travel of the sealing head, and to move with the'sealing head a distance correspondingto the length of the bottle, a pivotedweighted lever 'associated with the bottle support, said lever being arranged to compress the spring at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the sealing head in the downward direction and to thereby oppose said down ward movement of the bottle support with a uniform force,and means for removing said spring from operative position during the upward movement of the bottle support,

said weighted cam lever being arranged to move the bottle support in the upward direction.

15. In a bottle sealing machine, a sealing head,a power device arranged to reciprocate the sealing head through a fixed distance of travel, intermediate mechanism for connect ing the power device with the sealing head,

a depressible treadle for controlling saidconnection, said intermediate mechanism arranged to cause the sealing'head to be reciprocated but once for each depression of the treadle, a bottle support arranged to hold a 1 bottle in the path of-travel of the sealing head, and to move w th the sealing'head duringa portion of its-travel, a compensating device comprising a pivoted weighted cam lever associated with the bottle support, a spring arranged to be compressed by said cam lever, at a predetermined rate inrelat-ion to the movement of the bottle support in a downward direction and to thereby oppose ,the downward movement of the bottle support with a uniform force, and means for positively removing said spring from operative position during the upward movement of the bottle support.

16. In a bottle sealing machine, a frame, a power device, a reciprocating rod having a fixed distance of travel, a sealing head connected therewith, mechanism for conneeting the power. device with the reciprocating rod, a depressihle treadle een trolling said connectin mechanism, said connecting mechanism eing arranged to cause the reciprocating rod and the sealing head to be reciprocated but once for each depression of the treadle, a bottle support upon the frame, said bottle support being arranged to hold a bottle in the path of travel of the sealing head, and to move with the sealing head during a portion of its travel corresponding to the length of the bottle, a compensating device comprising a pivoted weighted cam lever associated with the, bottle support, a spring arranged to be compressed by said cam lever at a predetermined rate in relation to the movement of the bottle support in a downward direction and to thereby oppose the downward movement of the bottle support with a uniform force, means for positively removing said spring; from operative position during the upward movement of the bottle support, and means for adjusting the vertical position of the bottle support.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this'specification in the presence of 3; 

